Safety-fuse for high-explosive shells.



No. 734,697. PATENTED JULY 28, 1903. L. GATHMANN.

SAFETY FUSE FOR HIC-H EXPLOSIVE SHELLS.

AAPPLIOMION FILED 1120.18. 1397.

No MODEL. 4 2 sHBETswsHEET 1.

PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

L. GATHMANN. SAFETY FUSE FOB. HIGH EXPLOSVE SHELLS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.1B, 1397.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

iNTTaa STATas Patented July 2B, 1903.

PATENT @Trient LOUIS GATHMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLNOIS.

.SPECFlCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,697, dated July 28, 1903.

I Appiication filed December 18, 1897. Serial No. 662,420. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern/ Be it known that I, LoUI; GATHMANN, of Chicago, Illinois-"have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Fuses for High-Explosive Shells, of which the following is a specification..`

This' invention relates to safety-fuses for high-explosive shells', and is in the nature of an improvement upon the structure set forth in my Letters Patent No. 583,042, granted May 25, 1897.

The present improvement has for its object to insure the safety of the priming charge by positively preventing it from being aiected by the gases produced by a premature explosion of the detonatingcharge.Y In my prior Letters Patentaforesaid I have described and claimed a construction wherein a fuseefor high-explosive shells is provided with a chain` ber containing spriming charge of explosive material and a second chamber in which the detonating charge is normally contained and which has a cubicalA capacity of suiiicient size and walls of suiiicient strength to withstand the force of a premature explosion of the detonating charge, aud a passage between said two chambers through which thefuse may pass during the Hight of the shell.

.In order to obtain the object of my present invention, l provide means for positively closinfr the passage between the two chambers, said means being controlled and operated by the pressure A generated by reason of the eX- plosion of the oetonating charge in the fuse chamber and serving, because of said premature explosion, to'prevent the passage of the gases generated by said explosion from the fuse-chamber to the priming-chamber.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure` l is a longitudinal sectionof a shell or projectile embodying my inventionin one form. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the priming,r and detonating cases, shofving'the parts in the position they oef cupy in the shell before the latter'has been'- tired from the gun. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing the position of the parts `after the shell has been red from the gun.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the vline 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modified construction of the priming vand detonating devices.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the priming and detouating devices shown in Fig. 5, the same being shown in the position they occupy in the shell before the latter has been tired from the gun. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. G, showing the parts in the position assumed by them after the sheil has been discharged from the gun.

In itsgeneral features the present structure is similar to that set forth in luy prior Letters Patent, hereinbetore referred to, A representing the shell, and B the. main explosive charge of guncotton or other high explosive.

C indicates the priming-chamber case, and D the detonating-chainber cas", the two being shown in the present instance as connected by providing the base of the former with an externally-screw-threaded portion, over which the correspondingly internally threaded upper end of the latter is screwed. The detonator-case D has Walls of a sufficient strength, and the denotator-chamher D' is of suiiicient capacity to withstand the pressure generated by the accidental explosion of the 4detonator normally contained therein, as set forth in my prior Letters Patent, and there is located in said chamber a tube or stock d, in which is located a plunger E, carrying a detonatiug charge F of fulminate or other suitable material, and provided at its outward end with a seatf to receive a percussion-cap of any improved type and a passagej", extending from said `seat to the charge of ful.- minate F. The priming-chamber case C has its chamber provided with a priming charge G of guncottou or other suitable explosive, and the walls of said case are provided with lateral apertures c to establish communica- `tion between the priming-chamber and the interior of the shell A.

H indicates a stock or tube mounted in the priming-chamber, the rear stock diend front stock H being arranged in .line with each other, and preferably with their axes coincident with the axes of the cases and of the shell, and thereis provided a passage I in line with the two vstocks and formed in the present instance in the base of the primingchamber case C and adapted to permit the passage of the plunger E from the rear stock to the front stock after the shell has beenired from the gun,

J indicates a plunger' movable within the front stock H, its rear end being preferably conical, as shown atj, and there is mounted in said plunger a pin J', extending longitudi- 5 nally of the same and normally projecting rearward from the said plunger a short distance, as shown in-detail in Fig. 2. The plunger J is sec. red to the stock by means of a brittle screw or break-pin .7", and the pin Io J' is secured in the plunger by means of a ends of their 'f espective stocks by said screw or pin, as shown in Fig. 2.

The passage I between the detonating-chamber and the priming-chamber is controlled 'and normally closed by a block or plug K,

2o preferably constructed of copper or some other relatively soft metal, there being provided a lateral recess L, extending from the passage I to the side of the casing C, said recess increasing in width outwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, while its inner portion I is semicircular in form and of greater diameter than the passage I, so as to form seats for the block or plug K. This latter is of suiiicient Width to close the passage I when in the po- 3o sition shown in Figs. 2 and 4.- and is normally held in that position by the engagement of the pin J of the plunger J with a recess 7c in the upper surface of the block or plug. The block or plug is not symmetrical with respect to the axis of the passage I and of the cases and shell, being provided with a laterally-pro- .jecting portion 7c', which extends outward into the recess L. The recess L isclosed by a band or ring M, which is held in position be- 4o tween the cases C and D when the two are screwed together and by the removalofwhich Maccess may be had to the recess L in an obvious manner.

Openings 7L are provided in the walls of the stock H to establish communication between theinterior of said stock and the primingchamber of the case C, these openings being preferably located opposite and in line with the openings c of the said case and both sets 5o of openings being provided with thin metallic coverings h', which will readily yield to internal pressure.

The device thus constructed operates in the following manner: In case of a premature explosion of the detonating charge carried by the plunger E the chamber D will, as set forth in my prior Letters Patent, resist the force of this explosion and not be ruptured thereby. The pressure of the gas,

6o however, will be exercised against the under face of the block o plug K and will force the said block or plug upward against its upper seat and will thereby positively close the lower end of the stock or tube H and prevent the heated gases produced by the explosion from having access to the priming charge G.

In the normal use of the shell, however, after rasee? the same has been fired from the gun, the

screws or pins which hold the plu-ngers E and J will be broken in the manner set forth in my prior Letters Patent, and after the shell has passed some distance from the gun these plungers will move forward into and assume the position shown in Fig. 3. The forward movement ot' the rear plunger E into the' `front stock H is permitted by the lateral vthe block K is assured by reasonof its center of gravity Vbeing located at one side of the axis of the shell, such location being-due to the non-symmetrical form given to it in the manner heretofore pointed out by reason of its laterally projecting portion k. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the striking by the shell of asuitable resist- 'ance will cause the explosion of the detonating charge in the plunger E by reason of the contact of thepercussion-cap carried by said plunger with the pin J or the end of the plunger J, and, as shown in Fig. 3, this will the explosion of said charge will be commu-A nicated to the priming charge G, and thence` through the opening c to the of the shell.

In Fig. l I have shown a shell provided with a detonating and priming charge located at each end; 'but either one of these detonating and primingr charges may be omitted. ln said construction I have shown the device in the front/ot" the shell as supported therein by providing the base of the detonatingchamber D with ascrew-threaded portion d', which screws into a diaphragm N, having apertures n establishing communication between those portions of the shell lying on op` posite sides of said diaphragm. The device in the lower portion or base of the shell is shown as screwing directly into'the said base.

In Figs. 5, and 7 I have shown a nl odified form of construction, in 'which the front stock H is extended through`- and forms a lining for the passage I between-the front and the rear` stocks, said front stock H be'- ing provided with an internal ring or annular projection O, the forward shoulder o of which forms a seat, against which a corresponding shoulderp on the plunger J abuts when the shell is tired from the gun and the break screw or pin j is broken, these shoulders by their abutments servingto stop and limit the rearward yielding of the plunger J at the initial movement of the shell. construction shown in said Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the laterally-yielding block or plug K is dis mai n charge B lio n 3o In the pensed with and the. plunger J has a longiv vease? tudinal aperture Q of gradually-increasing width rearwardly, so that the rear portions of the walls of said plunger are comparativelyl thin and capable of expanding and yielding outward. There is provided externally en this portion of the plunger J a ring or projecting annulns g, which is adapted to en' gage with the rearmost shoulder o' of the annular 'projection O of the front stock when the plunger is expanded. R indicates a pin extending longitudinally through the opening Q in the plunger J and having at its rear end a conical plug r, which conforms to the taper of the rear portion of the opening Q. A suitable nut or cap r' is provided on the forward end of the pin R.

The device thus constructed operates in the following manner: In the case of a pref mature or accidental explosion of the detona.v

torin the chamber D' the pressure ofthe gas in said chamber will be exerted en the plungerJ' by acting upon the rear exposed face of the conical plug 1 ofthe pin R and will force this plug forward, thereby expanding the rear portion of the plunger and causing the annular projection or 'shoulder q of the plunger o engage the shoulder o of the projection O, and thus arrest the forward motion of the plunger J.' Further pressure will expand' the said plunger so as to tirmly close the passage I by reason of said expansion and by reason of the contact of the ring g with the ring i), and thereby positively prevent the passage of the gas generated by the explosion into the priming-chamber. Under normal conditions, however, when the shell is fired from the gun the screws or piusj' and ewill break and the plunger J and E will move forward in the manner alreadydescribed into the position shown in Fig. 7 and will operate to explode the' priming and main charges in the manner already set forth.

It is obvious that various modifications in the details of construction may be made without departing from the principle of my invention. For example, the shell and the cases may be constructed in various manners, and different means for connecting the same may be employed. It is, moreover, obvious that the fuse may he considered as a small shell or, in other words, that the principle of the invention embodied in the fuse may be em-l bodiedA in a shell.

I therefore do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself strictly to the precise construction shown and described.

I claiml. The herein-described improvement in fuses for highexplosive shells, consisting of a chamber containing a priming charge of explosive materal, a secondv chamber, a detona` tor normally held within said secondcham ber, a passagebetween said chambers through which the dsionator may pass during the flight of the shell and means controlled by excess ef pressure inA the second chamber for positively closing the passage between said chambers, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an explosive shell, of a vfuse, comprising a chamber containing a priming charge of explosive material', a second or deionatcr chamber in the rear thereof, a passage connectingthe two chambers, a

Ydetonator normally held in the second champassage connecting the two chambers, of a block or a plug located in said passage and adapted to positively close the same upon an adapted to be freed by the shock of tiring, and

a laterally-movable block or plug normally held in said passage by engagement with the forward plunger-and adapted to positively close said passage upon any excess of pressure in the detonator-.chamber and to be moved laterally outward by the rotation of the shell when the said plunger is freed, substantially as set forth.

5. In a safety-fuse of the character described, a detonaior casing comprising a detonator chamber opened and internally threaded at its forward end, a priming-chamber externally threaded at its base to screw into the detonatorchamber,a con necting-pas sage extending longitudinally through said base, a lateral recess adapted to receive a safety block or plug extending through said base from the passage to the sideof the casingand a ring or band clamped between the two cases and closing' the Amouth of said recess, whereby, when the two parts of said casing are unscrewed, said ring or band may be removed to give access to said recess, substantially as described. l

6. Inasafety-fuse forhigh-explosive shells, a priming-case adapted to contain a priming charge of guncotton orthewlike and provided with openings in itsv lateral Wall having yield- IOO IIO

ing coverings of thin metal, a guide tube or 1 stock extending longitudinally ef said chamber and provided with lateral openings located opposite those of the casing and having externa yielding coverings of thin metal, and

a detonator adapted to move longitudinally of said tube or stookend to be opposite said openings when in position for explosion, substantially as described.

7. Ashell for high explosives provided with :L fuse way or channel and a lateral recess or chamber, in Combination with a barrier or partition normally closing said fuse Way or channel and movable into seid lateral recess or chamber during the flight ofthe shell, substantially as described.

8. In a shell, bursting charge, e fnseway, a, detonator adapted to movev therein, and e barrier eeoually closing the fuseway,where by, upon the accidental or premature explosion of the detonator the fuseway is blocked thereby preventing the passage of the gases from the detonntor to the bursting charge.

9. In a. shell, a bursting charge therein, a fnsewny, a detonnter adapted to move in the fuseway, and :I barrier positively engaging A and closing said fuseway, so as to confine the rases from the detonator in case of the aceidental or premature explosion of the detonator, and means to ymove said barrier 'when the shell is propelled from the gun.

10. For use in an explosive shell, :I closed fuse-Lube having its Wells reduced or weekenefl et or nea r its front end to enable thedet.- onatongases to rupture the same and ire the shell charge, with a detonator in its rear end and aJ block or barrier secured in said fusetube between the detonntoranrl the weakened portion of the same to prevent the gasesfrom the detonator reaching the weakened portion of the fuse-tube and firing,r l[he shell charge in cese of an accidental or premature explosion of the detonator.

11. In eshell, a bursting charge, a fuseway, a detonator adapted to move therein, and e barrier or block arranged to close the fnsewey and constructed to be moved bythe rotary motion ofthe shell when propelled by the gun, as set'forth.

LOUIS GATHMANN. \Vitnesses:

FREDERICK C. GOODWIN, IRVINE MILLER. 

